Arc-lamp.



W. R. WHITNEY.

ABC LAMP.- APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 16, 1903.

Patented Mar. 9, 1909.

m M w N 0 w w N I Inventor. WiHis fi h-Whitney; y

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIS R. WHITNEY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COM- PANY, A CORPORATION OFNEW YORK.

' ARC-LAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 9, 1909.

I Application filed November 16, 1903. Serial No. 181,308.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLIS R. VVHITNEY,

in direct-current arc lam s in which carbon electrodes are employed t e major portion of the illumination furnished by the lam comes from an incandescent crater forme in the end 'of the positive electrode. The heat necessary to obtain this incandescent crater is great enough to cause rapid combustion of the electrode as well as to volatilize the material itself. I have found, however, that with many substances which give what is known as a flaming or luminous arc in which the major portion of the illumination coming from the lamp is furnished by the arc; thus obviating the necessity for incandescentv positive electrodes, it is not essential for the proper operation of the lamp that the positive electrode should be consumed under the action of the arc, since the negative electrode.

furnishes the necessa material required to maintain the arc. 1 n particular I have found that where th negative electrode is made of or contains titanium carbid, magnetic oxid of iron, or many other materials, a positive electrode constructed and .arrangedso that it will not be consumed by the heat of the arc can be advantageously employed; The positive electrode employed with such a negative may be made out of some metal such as copper or other conductin material which is not too readily oxidized.

It has been found desirable that the nonconsuming electrode be constructed so that the heat generatedby the arc will maintain it at a certain temperature-which is below that of oxidation of the material employed, but which is high enough to prevent the electrode from becoming too good a condenser for the products of combustion of the are. This result may be obtained with many different forms and arrangements of the positive electrode.

:maintain the arc.

I For a better understanding of my invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which I have illustrated one einbodlment of my invention.

' Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the upper positive electrode formed out of some material such as copper which is a good conductor of electricity and which is not consumed, except perha s in a very slight degree due to slow oxi ation. The lower electrode 2 is formed of or contains some material such as magnetic 'oxid of in n or titanium carbid which yields a flaming or'luminous arc.

, It will, of course,'be understood that electrodes differing in shape, arrangement and compositionfrom those illustrated in the drawing and described in the specification could be employed, as I do not intend that" suming positive electrode in combinationwith a negative electrode which in consuming yields up the necessary gases or vapor to What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,-

1. In an arc lamp, anon-consuming positive electrode, inc combination with a-negative electrode which in consuming yields up the necessary gases or vapor to maintain the arc.

2; In a lamp, a non-consuming positive electrode, in combination with a negative consuming electrode giving a flaming or luminous arc.

3. In an arc lamp, a non-consuming positive electrode, in combination with a negative consuming electrode containing a considerable proportion of an oxid.

4. In an arc lamp, a non-consuming positive electrode, in combination with a negativeelectrode containing magnetic oxid of iron.

5. Inan arc lamp, a negative consuming electrode giving a flaming or luminous arc, and a non consuming positive electrode formed out of some good conducting but not readily oxidizable metal.

6. In a lamp, a positive non-consuming electrode, in combination with a negative consuming electrode giving a flaming or luminous are, both of said electrodes being solids. i

7. In an arc lam an upper non-consuming positive electro e in combination with a negative electrode giving a flaming or luminous arc and which in consuming yields up the necessary gases or vapor to maintain the arc.

8. In an arc lamp, a non-consuming positive electrode formed out of cop er in 00111- bination with a negative electrode which in consuming yields up the necessary gases or vapor to maintain t e arc.

9. In an arc lamp, a positive metal electrode, in combination wlth a negative consuming electrode giving a flaming or luminous are. v

10. In an open air are lamp, the combination of a negative electrode which in consuming yields the necessary gases or vapor to maintain the arc, witha positive electrode constructed to be maintained at a temperature below that of oxidation of the electrode material.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set 25 

